Automobile-engine.



VEHlU-Ltti. a

AVAILAB E coy PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

A. LOOMIS. AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

APPLICATION nun NOV. 26, 1904.

4 sanmssnnn'r 1.'

M w m Ss's"c 180. MOTOR VEHICLES.

4 SHEETSS1IEET 2.

Inventor" M W 7%;;

Looms. AUTOMOBILE ENGINE. APPLICATION PILED NOV 26 1904 Mmess'es Q. Chm.

No. 787,581. PATBNTED APR.18,1905.

A. LOOMIS.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 26 1904 4 BEETS-SHEET 3.

" 1 180. MOTOR VEHICLES.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

A. LOOMIS.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.26, 1904.

4 SHEETS-BHEET 4.

Witnesses 62. (BMW M Patented. April is, 905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN LOOMIS, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,581, dated April 18, 1905.

Application file-l November 26, 1904. Serial No. 234,406. 7

To 11,/I13 whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN Looms, of Ann Arbor, in the county of VVashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Automobile-Engines,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile-engines, especially those using steam; and the objects of the present invention are, first, to provide a frame for use in -connection with my valve-gear (Serial No.

toothed Wheels or other transmission devices,

except the equalizing-gears; second, so to guide-the movable parts of the frame as. to

- avoid cramping thedriving mechanism: third, to'adapt the fixed portion of the frame to the application of a sectional d ust-case of the general form shown and described in my application for a patent on an automobile-engine, Se-

rial No. 223,240; fourth, to prevent dust and grit from entering around the movable parts,

" r and, in general, to avoid unknown or excess- 'ive stresses, to insure cheapness of construc- I tion and ready accessibility of the working i parts, and to keep the mechanism compactand .f- -zadaptable to automobile-bodies of popular I form, size, and height.

I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism emvbodying my invention, the cylinder-casting being removed and some of the parts on the right-hand side being sectioned at 1 '1, Fig. 2.

I- Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation at 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section at 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section at 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the cross-head housing in section at 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is anelevation of the left side of the rear part of a chassis with my engine fitted, the axle being sectioned at6 6, Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the crank-housing at 7 7, Fig. l.

5 Fig. 8 is a rear elevation. Figs. 9 to 12 illusl scribed in the applications above referred to, I 0

trate a modified form of my invention. Fig. 9 is a perspective view looking down toward the left and rear, as indicated at 9, Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the rear part of a chassis with my engine fitted, a part being sectioned at 10 10, Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation at 11 11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the left side of the rear part of an automobile with my engine fitted, the axle,

being sectioned at 12 12, Fig. 10.

Similar characters refer to similar part's f throughout the several views I shall first describe the preferred form of 2 my invention.

In the drawings, A A are road-wheelsfixed on the outboard ends of the aXle-section's'B B.

On the inboard ends of the axle-sectionsare' fixed the internally-toothed wheelsc 0', having brake-drums formed on their peripheries andjj bearings on their hubs for the cranked-men};

ber (J.

and application referred to above.

ing the brakerod 0 into compression instead of' tension.

driving-linkages. In order to avoid cramp tial for the connecting-rods to be adapted to a is a pedal for operating the brake,- j

(l d are the connecting-rods of the vmai'n"".,, 80.. ing when one road-wheel is lifted higher than 1 the other relatively to the chassis, it is essenrotate slightly about the axes of the cylinders or other axes parallel thereto. As the form of valve-gear used precludes rotation of the cross-heads, the desired end is reached by using for the piston connections 01 (Z a special form of ball-and-socket joint, the exact form of which will be fully described farther on in connection with the thrustframe S. The upper and lower guides for each crosshead are made extra far apart in order to clear the connecting-rods when the axle is displaced vertically from its normal position.

d (Z are piston-rods, and d d are pistons. Only the left-hand piston is shown. (See Fig. 6.) y

The valve-gear is of the form shown and der of the parts are here shown.

(Serial Nos. 211,309 and 223,240,) that shown on the first two sheets of the accompanying drawings being of the form adapted for use with the two D slide-valves. The characters referring to parts of the valve-gear are the same in the present application as in the applications above referred to. Onlya few (See Fig. 6.) 9 is a reducing-link; 13, a rocking lever; 15, a rock-shaft; 17. a link-shaft, and 19 a curved link. The rocking levers are bent, as shown, to clear the reverse-shaft arms, which work in the spaces a 0, Figs. 1 and 3. In the present instance both reverse-shaft sections are solid, as shown at a,an l work in holes in bossesmm, formed on the side dust-case sections M M. The right-hand lever 11 extends upward from the reverse-shaft. The lefthand lever 0" extends downward and is connected by the link a to the tumble-shaft arm a. The two last named parts are duplicated on the other side of the engine, the tumbleshaft 0 extending across the engine under the cylinders.

ff are side members of the chassis, and f is an intermediate longitudinal member. The engine is secured to the latter two. f" is the rear transverse member. The chassis is inolrnted upon springs of customary form, as at A round beam H (best shown in Fig. 5) secures the forward end of the cross-head housing I to the chassis. The supporting force is concentrated at a single point of the crosshead housing by means of a ball-and-socket joint. The ball /z., formed on the beam, is held in the cross-head housing by means of the threaded bushing vi, having a part of the socket formed in its inboard end, and the lock-nut 2". The rear end of the cross-head housing is secured to the chassis by bolts in the two lugs a" '11. Thus three-point suspension of the cross-head housing is secured, which prevents twisting strains being transmitted to it from the chassis. The cylindercasting i is bolted to the crank-end cylinderheads i i which are integral with the crosshead housing. The cylinders are slightly inclined to increase the road clearance under them, but are substantially horizontal, inasmuch as they are approximately at right angles to the path of rise and fall of the axis.

J is the bottom section of the dust-case.

K is the forward section of the dust-case. In the present instance the top and bottom edges are inserted in grooves in the crosshead housing instead of being bolted to it.

L is the top section of the dust-case, which in the present instance is hinged to the crosshead housing at land held shut by a single screw at Z.

M M M M are the side sections of the dust-case, which are supplemented by the bases of the pump-barrel castings N N.

. Around the rear end of the cross-head hous- .are applied.

ing is formed a lip '17. To this is secured by the seizing o the forward end of the sleeve 0,

which is made of leather, rawhide, enamelcloth, or other pliable material, which is dustproof and also preferably oil-tight. The seizing is preferably of tarred marline. The rear end of the sleeve is similarly seized at 0 to a lip on the forward side of the crank-housing.

P P are the sections of the crank-housing, which are joined at the center line by the fourteen bolts p p, &c. In the outboard ends of the crank housing are brazed the tubular axle-housings p 12 containing outboard axlebearings 79 p and carrying spring-seat bearings p p and also in the case of the longer housing a thrust-rod connection 10. The inboard axle-bearings are within the crankhousing, as shownat 1), Fig. l. The essential requirement of the spring-seat bearings is that they enable the spring-seats to rotate slightly about the axis of the tubular housings or about a line parallel to it. The balland-socket joints here shown have the advantage also of red ueing the twisting strains produced in the springs when one is compressed more than the other.

A hand-hole is formed in each section of the crank-housing especially to facilitate adjustment of the brake-bands. These hand-holes are fitted with covers 12 p each secured by four screws 1. Lips p 1), formed on the rear of the crank-housing sections, serve as guides for the roller 7', which takes the part of the block in a sliding block-linkage. Said roller turns on a pin 7", whose axis is midway between the axes of the cylinders and parallel to them. The pin is fixed relatively to the chassis by means of the struts R R.

The thrust-frame Sserves to maintain the proper distance between the crank-shaft and cylinders to transmit to the chassis the greater part of the driving effect of the wheels and to resist the tendency of the crank-housing to rotate with the axle-sections when the brakes The greatest stresses are, however, produced in the thrust-frame by the reaction of the connecting-rods. To resist this, it is necessary to have very strong and direct connections at the ends. Fixed in the rear end of the thrust-frame is a pin 8, the ends of which fit into bushings s .s, clamped between the crank-housing sections. The forward end of the thrust-frame is connected to the crosshead housing by means of a special ball-andsocket joint. The bearing-surface is in shape a narrow zone of a sphere. The bushing .9 inserted in the eye of the thrust-frame, is the exterior part. It is relieved at top and bottom, as best shown in Fig. 2, to enable the gudgeon s to be inserted edgewise. The gudgeon is then revolved into position and secured between the jaws s 8*, formed on the cross-head housing by means of the screws. As mentioned above, the piston connections (Z (Z are of the same form.

KOO

180. MOTOR VEHICLES.

' In order to minimize the tendency of the connecting-rod thrust to produce rotation of the crank-housing and thrust-frame about the forward thrust-frame connection 8 it is desirable to locate said connection 8 as near as possible to the mid-position of the connectingrod gudgeons. At the same time it is necessary that the jaws s 8 clear the rocking levers 13 and 14. (14 not shown.) I prefer to locate the jaws s 8 forward of the rocking levers, as shown.

The thrust-rod T, which is of customary form, supplements the action of the thrustframe in transmitting to the chassis the driving effect of the road-wheels. The forward end is pivotally connected to an extension 6 of the chassis, which brings the axis of the pivot into coincidence, as viewed from the side, with the axis of the forward thrust-frame connection.

With the proportions shown in the drawings when the crank-case is displaced vertically until the roller 9' comes into contact with the top or bottom of the guiding-lips 2 the effect is to lengthen the stroke about threefourths of one per cent. at the crank end, which is insignificant. The head-end limit of the'stroke remains practically unchanged.

The greatest tendency to cramp the crankpin hearings or the roller 1' occurs when one of the thrust members S T is in its normal or mid. position and the other is raised or depressed to the full extentindicated in the preceding paragraph. In this case one of the thrust connections 1 s is carried forward of the other, so that the axle does not make a right angle with the axis of the engine. The

magnitude of this angle in the extreme case, with the proportions shown in the drawings, is about twenty-eight minutes, which is the extreme cramping angle for the rollerr. For the crank-pins this may be augmented to thirty-five minutes, because the crank-pins are forward of the point guided by the roller r and are therefore subject to an additional lateral displacement. The above-named angles are reduced by one-half if the vertical displacement of the thrust connection is reduced by about one-fourth. The connectingrods are long and slender and capable of considerable deflection under a light deflecting force. Because of the above facts it is considered unnecessary to provide knuckle or uni versal joints at the crank ends of the connecting-rods.

In the modified form (illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12) the crank-shaft, equalizing-gear, brakes, driving-linkages, valvegear, engine-frame, dust-case, pump, flexible sleeve, axle-housing,

and thrust-frame are exactly as illustrated on A larger scales in my previous application, Serial No. 211,309. The crank-housing is the same, except for the addition of a boss p, in which is fixed the pin 1" for the roller r. In this instance the roller-guide p is secured to the chassis, being braced by the'diagonal rod 1/, and the motion of the roller is cushioned This leaves the inside of the crank-housing more accessible; but on account of the eccenthe internal gears, and the crank-housing is left entirely open at the rear.

The flexible sleeve 0 has more fullness than in the preferred form and is separately seized at 0 0 0 to the thrust-frame and connecting rods. The arrangement of dust-case sections, pump, and crosshead-housing supports are also different. In this design the jaws s s are located in the rear of the rocking levers in stead of forward, as in the preferred form. A single reverse-shaft 6 is used, crossing the chassis immediately forward of the boiler f", which is located on the same side of the vehicle as the reverse-lever 0 f is a door in the body for access to the engine. In the modified form the spring-seat bearings p p are cylindrical instead of spherical, and the springs G G are semi-elliptic instead of elliptic. It is obvious from the two sets'of plans accompanying this specification that the form and general arrangement of the different parts may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1

I. am aware of Patent No. 652,942, granted to G. E. \Vhitney on July 3, 1900; but the motor claimed by him comprises, as shown in his drawings, vertical cylinders, bell-crank levers, and an extra pair of connecting-rods to convert the motion of the pistons into horizontal motion. His connecting rods unitween his distance-rods, and his brackets se-' cured to the boiler for resisting the reaction of the connecting-rods are inherently weak, and the location of the pivots on same-is such as to produce great vertical vibration of the vehicle-body. In disclosing my invention, on the other hand, I have shown how to minimize this effect. By acareful consideration of the stresses involved I have been enabled to dispense with W hitneys complicatedmotor and substitute therefor the simpler leakage and moredirect horizontal cylinders. I have also invented a suitable valve-gear, an item which appears to have been heretofore neglected.

I claim 1. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a stantially horizontal cylinders secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, and a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

2. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons-t0 the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independentl y of each other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

3. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate theconnecting-rods and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

4. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizonal cylinders secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

5. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a difierential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantiall y horizontal cylinders, fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, and a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substan tiall y constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

6. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them.

a common axis of rotation, a difierential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articular-1y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, and a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

7. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, adifi'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articular-1y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the roadwheels to rise and fall independently of each IIO 180; MOTOR VEHlULttS.

other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

8. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularl y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the erank-l'iousing across the chassis.

9. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them acommon axis of rotation, a difi'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantiall y horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularl y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, athrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the roadwheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and aguide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the otherfixed relatively to the crank-housing adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

10. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, adifi'erential gear makingdriving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, sub, stantially horizontal cylinders lixedl y secured to the chassis and articularl y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, 5

the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

11. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a difi'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secure to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the roadwheels to rise and fall independently of each other, a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adapted to restrict motion of the crankhousing across the chassis.

12. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranke member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, subto the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistonsworking in the cylinders, drivingconnecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods, universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantiall constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting of each other,a guide and a bearing, one fixe relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

stantiall y horizontal cylinders fixedly secured the road-wheels to rise and fall independently 13. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is drivem.

to the crankpins, and thrust mechanism jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain-a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

14. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a difl'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, sub stantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and-articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the-crank-pins, and thrust mechanism universallyjointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

15. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, aditferential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crankpins, thrust mechanism jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

16. In combination in an automobile, road wheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, adifi'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

17. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermed iate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, aditferent-ial gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank pins, thrust mechanism jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a su bstantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other,and aguide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing adapted to restrict motion of the crankhousing across the chassis.

18. In combination in an automobile, road wheel axle-sections. each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections, and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs. substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders. driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism-universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to i'naintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crankhousing adapted to restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

19. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation. adifi'erential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank pins, thrust mechanism jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and'fall independently of each other, a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adaptedto restrict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

20.- In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a

multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle Io housings. a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pis- I5 tons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders,

while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis,

the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adapted to re- 2 5 strict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

21. In combination in an automobile, roadwhcel axle-sections, each of which is driven,

a multiple-cranked driving member interme- 3 diate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, sub- Qstantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to thecrank-pins,and thrust mechanism ad apted to maintain a substantially constant dis- 4 tance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other.

' 22. In combination in an automobile, road- Wheel axle-sections, each of which is driven,

a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle 5 housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, drivingconnecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders,

while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a linkage adapted to restrict motion of the crankhousing across the chassis.

23. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them 5 a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons Working in the cylin- 7 ders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing adapted to restrict motion of the crankhousing across the chassis.

24. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, adiflerential gear 5 making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylin- 9 ders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, a guide and a bearing, one fixed relatively to the chassis, the other fixed relatively to the crank-housing, and a movable part interacting between the guide and the bearing and adapted to re- I00 strict motion of the crank-housing across the chassis.

25. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member interme- 5 diate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, adiiferential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, sub- I I6 stantially horizontal cylinders secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods and adapted to maintain 5 a substantiallyconstant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

26. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them 5 a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders secured to the 3 chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, dri ving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crank-housing.

27. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

28. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders. while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and aflexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crankhousing.

29. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housing, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank'housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

30. ln'combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantiall y horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housings, pistons working in the cylinders, drivingcon nectingrods from the pistons to the crank-pins, a thrust member intermediate the connecting-rods universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crankhousing.

31. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axlesections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substan tiall y constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

32. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axlesections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularl y connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crank-pins, thrust mechanism jointed.

to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crankhousing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crankhousing.

33. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of'whioh is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis and articularly connected to the crank-housing, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crankpins, thrust mechanism universally jointed to the cylinders and adapted to maintain a substantially constant distance between the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

34. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured maintain a substantially constant distance be tween the crank-housing and the cylinders, while permitting the road-wheels to rise and fall independently of each other, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crank-housing.

35. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to thecrank-pins, thrust mechanism, and a flexible sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections.

36. In combination in an automobile, roadwheel axle-sections, each of which is driven, a multiple-cranked driving member intermediate the axle-sections and having with them a common axis of rotation, a differential gear making driving connection from said cranked member to the axle-sections, crank and axle housings, a chassis mounted on springs, substantially horizontal cylinders fixedly secured to the chassis, pistons working in the cylinders, driving connecting-rods from the pistons to the crankpins, thrust mechanism, and a flexible'sleeve closing the crank end of the space occupied by the piston connections and the head end of the crank-housing.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ALLEN LOOMIS.

\Vitnesses:

HARRISON SOULE, Gno. S. BAKER. 

